Knockdown packing-box.



N0. 7l0,7l5. Patented. Oct. 7, I902.

J. F. REUL. KNDCKDDWN PACKING BOX (Appliution filed 1hr. 28, 1902.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES JOHN F. REUL, OF

KNTOQCKDOWN JUN EA U, XVISCON SIN.

PACKING-BOX.

SPEGIFTCIXION forming part of Letters Patent No. 710,715, dated October '7, 1902. Application filed March 26, 1902. Serial No. 100,043. (No model.)

T 0 (all whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. REUL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Juneau, in the county of Dodge and State of \Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knockdown Paoking-Boxes,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to knockdown packing-boxes, and has for its object to provide an improved device of this class which will possess points of advantage in simplicity of construction, inexpensiveness of manufacture, effectiveness, and general efflciency.

Anol her object-of this invention is to provide an improved device of the class described in which the parts are so organized that when knocked down for return as an empty the sides and ends can be laid upon the bottom and the top placed over all, forming a very thin package which will occupy little space.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box in operative condition embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of one corner thereof. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of one end thereof. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the box in its knockdown position with the top partially raised.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the top of a box composed of any suitable material, preferably of wood,and the ends of which are provided with depending flanges 2, which extend for a short distance along the sides of the top 1 from the ends thereof. The flanges 2 may be formed in any suitablemanner and of any suitable material, but preferably and in the form herein shown are formed of a strip of metal bent to form an angle-iron and having one flange slit and the ends of such metal strip turned at right angles to the middle portion thereof. The flanges 2 are herein shown as secured to the top 1 by rivets 3.

The bottom eof the box is identicalin structure with the top 1 and adapted when the sides and ends of the box are removed to fit into the flanges 2 at the ends of the top 1.

The sides 5 of the box consist of pieces of suitable material, preferably wood, substantially equal in width to one-third of the width of the bottom of the box and in length to nearly that of the bottom of the box.

The ends 6 of the box consist of pieces of suitable material, preferably wood, equal in width to the sides of the box and in length to the width of the bottom of the box and are adapted to fill the space between the ends of the sides 5 of the box and the end flanges 2 of the box. Preferably the ends of the end pieces 6 of the box are rabbeted to receive the ends of the side pieces 5 of the box.

The organization of the parts is such that when the box is set up for operative use the end pieces 6 fit within the flanges 2 at the ends of the bottom of the box and the side pieces fit within the flanges extending along the sides of the ends of the bottom of the box and against the rabbets at the end of the ends 6 of the box, and the top fits over the side pieces 5 and end pieces 6, the end flanges 2 of the top 1 overlapping said side pieces 5 and end pieces 6 and binding the whole together. When it is desired to ship the box empty or store it away, the top 1 is removed, the side pieces 5 and end pieces 6 removed and laid side by side, the end pieces in the middle end to end upon the bottom 4 of the box, and the top 1 of the box placed over the whole, the flanges 2 overlapping the flanges of the bottom of the box and side pieces 5 and end pieces 6 being equal in thickness to the space between the top 1 and bottom 2 of the box when the end flanges are so overlapped.

Any suitable fastening means maybe employed.- For instance, spring-clasps 7,similar to those used to secure the lid of a trunk, may be secured to the side pieces 5 at the corners of the box and adapted to engage keepers 8, secured to the top and bottom of the box. v

The operation andadvantages of my invention will be readily understood and appreciated. The box having been set up, as described, is filled with whatever it is desired to ship and the top 1 put in place. Thechain or strap 7 is passed over the top 1 of the box and its end secured to the bottom of the box, thereby binding the whole firmly together. The box can now be shipped with perfect socurity to what it contains, and upon its arrival and after it is unpacked it is only necessary to remove the top, remove the side pieces 5 and end pieces 6 and lay them upon the bottom, and replace the top, carrying the chain or strap around the box in its collapsed condition and securing it, and the box is ready for storage or return as an empty.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the details of construction and arrangement as herein described and illustrated, as it is manifest that variations and modifications maybe made in the features of construction and arrangement in the adaptation of the device to various conditions of use without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and improvements. I therefore reserve the right to all such variations and modifications as properly fall with the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. An improved device ofthe class described, comprising a top and bottom, each provided with end and side flanges, sides of approximately one-third the width of the top and bottom, and end pieces corresponding in width to that of the sides, and adapted to be placed end to end to occupy the space between the sides when the latter are laid upon the bottom.

2. An improved device of the class described, comprising a top provided at its ends and sides adjacent to such ends with depending flanges, and each formed of a piece of flat metal bent longitudinally at right angles and having two spaced transverse slits and bent at right angles at said slits and secured to said top, a bottom provided at its ends and sides adjacent to such ends with uprising flanges each formed of a piece of flat metal bent longitudinally at right angles and having two spaced transverse slits and bent at right angles at said slits and secured to said bottom, end pieces with rabbeted portions at their ends and adapted to fit within the flanges, and side pieces fitting in said rabbeted portions and said flanges.

3. An improved device of the class described, com prising a top provided at its ends and sides adjacent to such ends with depending flanges each formed of a piece of flat metal bent longitudinally at right angles and having two spaced transverse slits and bent at said slits and secured to said top, a bottom side pieces near the ends and adapted to en- .55 provided at its ends and sides adjacent to gage the top and bottom when in operative position.

4. An improved device of the class de-.

scribed, comprising a top provided at its ends and sides adjacent to such ends with depending flanges each formed of a piece of flat metal bent longitudinally at right angles and having two spaced transverse slits and bent at said slits and secured to said top, a bottom provided at its ends and sides adjacent to such ends with uprising flanges each formed of a piece of flat metal bent longitudinallyat right angles and having two spaced transverse slits and bent at right angles at said slits and secured to said bottom, end pieces with rabbeted portions at their ends and adapted to fit within the flanges, side pieces fitting in said rabbeted portions and said flanges, and locking devices embodying loops pivoted to the side pieces at top and bottom near their ends and keepers for engaging such loops secured on the sides of the top and bottom near their ends.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

JOHN F. REUL.

itnesses:

A. N. PIERITZ, F. W. GEBHARDT. 

